Shoe shank stiffener



' July 2,1935. I o; H. THELEN 2,006,846

SHOE SHANK STIFFENER Filed Dec. 6, 1932 shanks.

Patented July 2, 1935 aqoas ie new PATEN OFFICE SHOE :S'HANK STIFFENERH I I a iO tto H Thelen, Lynn,IMass., I Application December 6, 1932, Serial No. 645,901 3 Claims. (01. 36+v6):

' is limited.

One object of this invention is to provide a stiffener of great strength for its weight and width, the strip having a reinforcing longitudinally extending rib. A further object is to so form the strengthening rib that it is not liable to be flattened and the stiffener thus weakened toward its heel end where it is subjected to the most severe pounding out and to the action of heel nailing mechanism.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective of a stiffener embodying this invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are sections on correspondingly numbered section lines of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section'of a shoe of the McKay or cement process type showing the stiffener therein. v I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan of a McKay shoe showing the stiffener in dotted lines;

Figure 6 is a detail section on line 66 of Figure 5. V

Figure 7 is a top plan of the stiffener before being molded to its longitudinal curvature.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan of the same Referring to the drawing, the shank stiffener shown at l comprises a strip of metal tapering in width from the points2 both forwardly and rearwardly. It is provided with a central stiffening rib 3 for the greater portion of its length and 'of substantially uniform depth, which, starting from a point substantially in lateral alinement with the points 2, has its sides 4 arranged substantially parallel and close together, as is shown best in Figure 2. At about the point 5 forwardly of the points 2 the side walls 4 of the rib 3 begin to flare away from each other until from about the points 6, and forwardly to substantially the break line of the stiffener at 1, these sides are so inclined from each other as to present a substantially uniform curved transverse section as shown in Figure 3. From the points 2 to the points 6 there stiffener.

is a substantially fiat lateral flange portion-3 on either side of the stilfening rib but fromi-ithe points 6 forwardly the stifiening rib itselfzextends the full width of 'theystiffener, its edges forming continuationsv of the side edges of :the fia'nges 8. "Adjacent to-the endsof the stiffener are suitable attaching means such as the pairs of prongs El and It by which the stiffenermay be secured in position. These prongs are in substantially transversely flat end portions of the stiifenenthe prongs in being shown as posiapplied.

The stiffener tapering forwardly from the heel if the weight of the wearer on the shank stiffener tending to force it forwardly, wedges it firmly ward end of the stiffener from the entire stress of holding the stiffener in positionwith reference to the sole at its forward end, this being as shown and claimed in my Patent No. 1,860,437, granted May 31, 1932, for Shoes and shank stiffeners therefor. Of course a similarv action takes place in the case of a cement processshoe, except that there are no lines of stitching to secure the upper materials in positionbetween the soles.

'Ifhe shape of the stiffening rib at its forward portion aids in shaping the outer face of the outersole but at its rearportion, particularly between the points 2 and 5, it presents a very stiff construction resistant to the flattening effects of hammer blowsexerted on the shoe during the shaping of the shank portion and resistant to the blows of the heeling machine by which the heel, shown at IS in Figure 4,is secured in position. In the stiffening rib formed with fiaring'sides, as for example as shown' in Figure 3, such blows would be quite liable to into this tapered pocket and relieves the for- I flatten the rib so as to materially destroy its effectiveness in imparting stiffness to the shank The rear end portion of the stiffener rearwardly of the points 2 is tapered in order 'to provide more room for the driving of the heel-securing nails as at this part of the stiffener there is no great amount of stress placed by the weight of the wearer of the shoe.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stiffener comprising a metallic strip of gradually tapered width throughout the major portion of its length and having a longitudinal rib extending substantially the length of said tapered portion, said rib "having its sides substantially parallel and close together throughout the heel end portion and "inclined from each other forwardly.thereof-andvextended to the edges of the stiffener in the forwardportion thereof, said stiflener having its widest-portion toward-the rear end of said. heel end portionand tapering forwardly therefromfiand pre- ,senting laterally -,flat ,fiange .portions vat aeach side-of saidrib at the rear .end portion, only.

IZWA shank stiffener comprising a "metallic strip ;having.a :longitudinal stiffening rib "extending for the major portion of its length/said rib having its sides substantially parallel and close together throughout the heel portion and inclined from each other forwardly thereof and together forming the entire width of the stiffener in the forward portion of the stiffener to the break line in a substantially uniform curve, said stiffener having flanges extending outwardly from said rib rearwardly of said forward portion.

-3. A zshankstiifener :comprising :a metallic strip having a longitudinal stifiening rib ex- .tending for the major portion of its length, said rib having its sides substantially parallel and :closetogether throughout the heel portion and inclinedirom each other forwardly thereof and "togetherforming the entire width of the stiffen- .er-inthet-forward portion of the stifiener to the lyzfromsaid rib rearwardly of said forwardtportion, the outeredges-of said flanges forming continuations. of :the side edges of said curve J in the forward portion.

OTTO H. L. \THELEN. 

